Glossary of Terms
| Fimbria | The delicate ends of the fallopian tubes that help pick up the egg from the ovary. |
| Follicle | Fluid filled sac in the ovary that contains a developing egg. |
| Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) |
A hormone either produced naturally by the pituitary or given as a medication (Pergonal/Metrodin) which causes follicle growth and egg development within the ovary. |
| Gamete | A reproductive cell (eggs in a woman and sperm in a man). |
| Gamete lntrafallopian Transfer (GIFT) |
An infertility treatment that includes ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, and gamete (sperm and egg) transfer to one or both fallopian tubes by laparoscopic surgery. |
| Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) |
A hormone secreted by the pregnancy. The presence of this hormone
in the woman's blood or urine represents a positive pregnancy test.
HCG is also given as a medication in an ART cycle to trigger egg maturation
and to mimic an LH surge Implantation: The process of embryo attachment to the uterine lining or endometrium. |
| Incubate | To maintain eggs, sperm or embryos under controlled conditions (temperature, humidity and gaseous environment) favorable for development. |
| Inseminate | Placing eggs and sperm together in order for fertilization to occur. |
| In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) | An infertility treatment that includes ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval and sperm collection. Eggs and sperm are then placed together in the laboratory, therefore, fertilization takes place outside of the woman's body. Resulting embryos are later transferred to her uterus. |
| Luteinizing Hormone (LH) |
A hormone either produced naturally by the pituitary or given 1~ as a medication (Pergonal) which causes follicle development, egg maturity, and ovulation. |
| Media | A liquid nutrient system in which eggs, sperm and embryos are cultured. |
| Oocyte | An egg |
| Ovulation | The release of an egg (or eggs) from the ovary. |